Damn I hate that Gates is leaving this book now especially because this issue rocked! Seriously we get a new menace, creepy as hell, called Dollmaker! (Is he Toyman’s son?) Finally some confirmation that Lana’s son is still in continuity. Cat Grant’s great commentary on how Supergirl dresses (I love how she mentions that belly shirts haven’t been in style in a decade…cause seriously it’s like the artists at DC don’t look around) all with Igle’s superb art. Oh and a great cliffhanger featuring Superwoman! I can’t wait to see what Lois wants to talk to her sister about.

I just LOVE Damian Wayne now hahaha he calls Stephanie a dreadful shrew in this and it sounds perfect coming from his little mouth! This was an action-packed and fun adventure story. Sadly, no Cassandra in this issue. I am hoping that she will be in the next issue or at least be mentioned. That being said, I can’t help but love Miller’s writing. It is not MY Batgirl, but I do like Stephanie Brown in this role even if I wish Cassandra Cain were still Batgirl more. The art and the story was top notch and every line the characters spoke was genuine and fun to read. Good issue.

CASSANDRA CAIN APPEARED IN THIS ISSUE!

Yes, it was for one panel but it was damn awesome to see her! She hasn’t been forgotten about! It’s sad that a one-panel appearance gets me so excited when she should be appearing regularly in at least one monthly bat book. I am hoping she is going to be in the new Birds of Prey! Please put her in the new Birds of Prey DC! Anyways, this was a good issue and I love Damian so much now. What a change of feelings for the character I have had. I originally hated him. This was a lot of fun and a good book. More Cassandra Please!

Times are a changing for this book as Superman makes the decision to leave earth for New Krypton this issue. I like how he said goodbye to Lois and Martha. It was very sweet. I am not sure how I feel about Mon-El adopting Johnathan Kent’s name. I think it is kind of an odd choice, but I look forward to reading about his adventures in this book.

Superman #686
Written by James Robinson
Art by Renato Guedes

This was a pretty SWEET beginning for this title without Superman. Robinson looks to be fleshing out the city of Metropolis well and Guedes does his best work…well…ever in this issue! It was really beautiful art. Mon-El still has a lot to learn about being a hero and I like that Steel and the Guardian are watching him. I don’t think Robinson has really sold me on the Guardian yet though. Black Lightning is on the cover but I imagine he actually won’t be involved in any of this because of Outsiders. I can’t wait for the next issue. Who knew Superman would be this good without Superman!

Another good issue of this storyline. As you can probably tell from the cover, this issue returns to focusing on Superman’s rogues gallery although there isn’t as much characterization of them as in prior issues. I know nothing about most of these villains, they all seem interesting except bloodsport because well I guess he just seems plain. I think this was the low point of this storyline. It didn’t get me as excited as the other issues although it was still loads better than this series was before one year later. My favorite moment must have been how Lois finds out that Clark had regained his powers. Pretty cool that he could be leaning on an oven and not notice. People with any knowledge of DC History will notice that Superman’s power level is about the same as Earth-2 Superman’s. I wonder how this ties in.